NEWS
--According to a facebook post by the Little Falls Community Schools early Thursday afternoon a student reported seeing what was believed to be a handgun located by the high school pond. Upon immediate investigation, it was determined by Officer Kenny Coppes and administration that the item was a plastic toy air soft gun. At no time was there any danger to students or staff. If you have any questions or concerns please contact the high school or district office.
--On Wednesday the Central Minnesota Violent Offender Task Force conducted a search warrant at the address of 622 Wilson Avenue SE, St. Cloud. The task force had obtained a warrant after conducting an investigation into the sales of controlled substances at the residence and the possibility of firearms being present. Due to the possibility of the firearms, the St. Cloud Police Department SWAT team served the warrant. Several people were home at the time of the warrant including the homeowner, 26-year old Jon Andrew Jenks. During the course of the search a .22 and 25 caliber Handgun, were located along with 250 prescription pills, approximately 28 grams of cocaine, mushrooms, a small amount of marijuana and $2,350. Jon Jenks was arrested for 2nd degree possession of a controlled substance charge and being a felon in possession of a firearm. 24-year old Sireatha Thea-arel Tek was arrested and charged with 4th degree possession of a controlled substance. Both Tek and Jenks were transported to the Sherburne County Jail to await court. The other parties at the residence were not arrested.
--A gas spill had to be cleaned up in Holdingford on Tuesday. The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office says it happened about 4:30pm at 211 River Street. A truck pulling a long trailer was at the Holdingford Gas and Grocery. When pulling out of the parking lot the trailer struck a gas pump causing it to leak gas. The truck was driven by 30-year old Darrin Gorka of Long Prairie. The emergency shut off valve was activated by an employee. River Street was closed for a half hour.
--The man at the center of the kidnapping, holding an Alexandria teen captive and assaulting her may have assaulted another woman two years earlier. Thomas Barker is currently charged with kidnapping and holding an Alexandria teen captive for 29 days. She escaped by swimming to safety earlier this month. Barker was charged with another sexual assault two years earlier, for allegedly holding a woman at gunpoint and demanding sexual favors. Barker was never convicted. The case was dropped before trial. Barker is currently being held on $100,000 cash bail in the current Alexandria kidnapping case. He has not entered a plea yet, but his attorney expects Barker will plead not guilty.
--As farmers prepare to harvest their crops this fall, they should consider leaving a few rows of standing corn to help control blowing and drifting snow, as well as improve visibility on Minnesota roads this winter. MnDOT pays farmers to leave standing corn rows, hay bales or silage bags to protect selected state roads. Farmers are compensated per acre for leaving standing corn rows and per lineal foot for strategically stacked bales or silage bags. A typical standing corn row treatment is about a ¼ mile long and one acre in size, with 12 rows of corn left standing. Average compensation to the landowner is about $1,000 per acre. Farmers and landowners who want more information about the standing corn row program can contact their local MnDOT district office.
--MLMB First Response Team (Morrill Township) is hosting a Mock Car Crash Training Exercise on Sunday at Czech’s Auto Body in Buckman. This is a training event for first responders. There will be signs posted near the exercise location to make the public aware that this is a training exercise only.
--The Brainerd Jaycees and Brainerd Community Action are proud to announce that Sarah Wiger has been chosen as the 2017 Youth Volunteer of the Year. The selection committee determined that Sarah was deserving of this award because she has made a difference in the community through volunteerism and service work. In her years of dedication and passion, she served her church in the bell choir, has gone on three mission trips, volunteered in the emergency room at Essentia Health and has helped at the local soup kitchen. Her goal is to be a physician and return to the area and give back to this area what it has given her. Congratulations Sarah Wiger.
--A public open house will be held from 4-7:00pm on Monday, October 9th at CentraCare Health in Long Prairie located down the street from the existing hospital. Tours will be available and refreshments will be served. The opening is a culmination of two years of fundraising and 16 months of construction. The 65,000 square foot medical campus cost $30.8 million to build. Following the open house date, the hospital will open and patients will be transferred on October 14th. The rest of the campus and clinic will open at 7:00am on Monday, October 16th.
--Kids Day is Saturday at the Morrison County Fairgrounds 9-11:30. A number of businesses, organizations will be here bringing out fun for all kids to come and enjoy. This is a free event at the fairgrounds.
--The 14th Annual St. Stanislaus Church Bazaar in Sobieski will be Sunday with mass at 10:30am, dinner 11-2 with Gorka's chicken and sausage, aluski and more. There will also be kids games, baskets, quilt raffle, gun raffle, cash raffle, bingo and more Sunday in Sobieski. Other events include a pasty dinner tonight at Bethel Lutheran Church in Little Falls, walk for Alzheimer's Saturday in Baxter, auction fundraiser in Hillman Saturday, polka praise service Sunday at Zion Lutheran Church in Little Falls and more event details at fallsradio.com on the community calendar.
DEATH NOTICE
--Roy M. Nelson, age 88 of Swanville
WEATHER
TODAY= hazy sunshine, humid, high 87. late day storm possible
TONIGHT= warm, humid, low 72, late night storms possible.
SATURDAY= scattered strong storms through day, high 75.
SUNDAY= scattered storms likely, breezy, high 70, low 55.
MONDAY= scattered showers, cooler, breezy, high 62, low 43.
SPORTS
HS FB= St. Cloud Cathedral at Little Falls tonight 7pm on KLTF.
HS FB= Pierz at Melrose tonight 7pm on FM94 KFML.
TWINS= Twins beat Detroit yesterday 12-1. Twins continue series in Detroit this weekend with pregame tonight at 5:30pm, Saturday at 4:30 and Sunday pregame at 10:30am on Q92 WYRQ.
NFL= Vikings host Tampa Bay Sunday at noon.
WNBA= Lynx in WNBA Finals with LA Sparks, game 1 Sunday.
COL FB= Gophers have weekend off, take on Maryland Sept. 30th.